Two members of staff from a Birmingham school who handed out 300 food parcels to pupils to ensure they were fed during the pandemic have been shortlisted for an award.
Nargis Osman-Ghani and Christine Francis from Starbank School in Small Heath have been nominated for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s Outstanding Citizens Awards.
The 49 and 58 year olds are up for the Key Worker Hero Award which recognises those workers who have gone above and beyond to support their community.
Nargis and Christine have also been helping parents access the free school meal scheme if English is not their first language.
As well as providing help to get food to children the pair have worked hard to distribute sanitary products, body wash and toothpaste.
Although the school staff have mainly helped local people, they have also supported families whose children do not go to the school.
Both Nargis and Christine work closely with the Local Neighbourhood Police Team and are also constantly working to raise awareness around key issues such as child sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, knife crime, forced marriage and modern slavery.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson said: “All of our key workers have worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone in our community receives the support they need.
“Nargis and Christine have gone out of their way to help the most vulnerable and I am pleased that we are able to recognise their achievement by nominating them for an Outstanding Citizens Award.
“I wish them good luck for Friday’s award ceremony.”
Outstanding Citizens Award nominees Nargis Osman-Ghani and Christine Francis said: “Our role is to support families to ensure that they have every opportunity available to lead successful lives.
“When the pandemic hit we knew that we had to do all that we could to support the most vulnerable in our community and that is why we have been working to provide food parcels and other methods of support for those who most need it.”
The pandemic has had an impact on all communities in the West Midlands. The nominees in this category have worked hard to ensure that throughout those who are most vulnerable are safe.
The other nominee for this category is Hardeep Sandu a Social Worker from Wolverhampton.
You can watch the awards here: https://www.ourevent.tv/oca21.
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